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 20 May 2012
⇐20120519 ⇐Week ⇐Rotation Today Rotation⇒ Week⇒ 20120521⇒

NOAA
9 Active Regions
11477
11478
11479
11482
11483
11484
11486
11481
11485
SMART
No Data
CHARM
No Data
Welcome to the Flare Prediction System. This page gives the active regions on the Sun today together with each regions probability for producing C-, M-, or X-class events. The flare probabilities were calculated using NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center data from nearly eight years of data starting November 1988 and ending June 1996. The percentage probabilities are based on the number of flares produced by regions classified using the McIntosh classification scheme (McIntosh, P., 1990, Solar Physics, 125, 251) during cycle 22. For example, between November 1988 and June 1996 there were 302 regions classified Eai. As this class produced 62 M-class events, the mean M-class flare rate is ~62/302 or ~0.21 flares per day. Assuming the number of flares per unit time is governed by Poisson statistics, we can estimate a flaring probability for the following 24-hours using P( one or more flares ) = 1 - exp( -mean ), i.e., P = 1 - exp( -0.21 ) ~ 0.19, or 19% for an Eai class region to produce one or more M-class flares in the next 24-hours. See Wheatland, M. S., 2001, Solar Physics, 203, 87 and Moon et al., 2001, Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 106(A12) 29951 for further details.

Click here for a description of the various active region classifications from the Royal Observatory of Belgium.
Region Flare Probabilities (%)
Number McIntosh C-class M-class X-class
11477 Hrx 5(5) 0(0) 0(0)
11478 Hsx 4(5) 1(0) 0(0)
11479 Hsx 4(5) 1(0) 0(0)
11482 Dki 41(30) 20(5) 3(0)
11483 Bxo 5(25) 1(5) 0(0)
11484 Dac 22(65) 12(15) 0(5)
11486 Cso 12(15) 2(0) 0(0)

NOTE: Values in parantheses/brackets give the NOAA/SWPC forecast probabilities for the occurrence of one or more C-, M-, or X-class flares. When viewed in real-time and before 22:00 UT, predictions are valid up to 22:00 UT on the current date. When viewed in real-time after 22:00 UT (or when viewing past dates), predictions are valid up to 22:00 UT on the following date. The most recent data can also be found at NOAA's 3-day Space Weather Predictions page.

Please contact Peter Gallagher if you have any comments or questions regarding this research.

IDL Access

Today's NOAA Active Regions
Group Number
Location
Hale
Class
McIntosh Class
Sunspot
Area
Number of Spots
Flares
History
11477 S22W85
(875",-352") 		α/α Hrx/Hrx 0020/0020 01/01 -
11478 S23W75
(843",-362") 		α/α Hsx/Hsx 0050/0050 01/01 -
11479 N15W53
(732",264") 		α/β Hsx/Cso 0050/0070 01/04 -
11482 N15W44
(637",268") 		β/β Dki/Dai 0280/0230 14/18 -
11483 S24W42
(581",-364") 		β/ Bxo/ 0010/ 04/ -
11484 N10W17
(273",195") 		β/β Dac/Dsi 0230/0200 16/19 -
11486 N16E40
(-587",285") 		β/β Cso/Dao 0200/0190 03/02 -
11481 S10W36
(550",-139") 		/ / / / -
11485 S20W00
(0",-294") 		/α /Axx /0010 /03 -

Events not associated with currently named NOAA regions: None

Note: The tabulated data are based on the most recent NOAA/USAF Active Region Summary issued on 20-May-2012 00:30 UT , the values to the right of the forward slashes representing yesterdays values or events. Regions with no data in above property fields have decayed and exhibit no spots. The region positions are valid on 20-May-2012 23:00 UT .